Sometimes it's tough to be a nice guy
It's a nice thing to do deeds that help people. It makes you feel good and there's nothing wrong with that. Once you get past the not totally selfless guilt feeling, you can be all in. It's win/win type of thing.
I like to give cash to people living on the street. Not all the time but a dollar here, fifty cents there, a couple times a week helps a little. I also teach a class at a homeless shelter every Thursday. All of that is a giving back thing.
Besides that I walk in three charity 5ks each year. Plus I write a lot about Parkinson's Disease and Melanoma. I think it raises awareness....at least I hope it does.
Okay...okay...enough of this trying to qualify for sainthood crap!
There is one thing I really like to do and people are making it tough on me. I can't give away these damn Monopoly tickets!
We're all familiar with Monopoly. The game was created in 1903 so we've been playing it for more than 100 years. McDonald's occasionally has a Monopoly promotion and so does our local Jewel grocery stores. Jewel is owned the Albertson's group so you can play Monopoly in those stores throughout the USA.
For me, it started two years ago. I decided I was going to play Monopoly. I like grocery stores and since my local one is less than a five minute walk, I'm there pretty much every day. I got my game board and was ready to win cash and prizes. The problem was I didn't really keep up with it and towards the end of the game I realized I had hundreds of tickets. It was too much work to take them apart and glue them onto the board. I just threw them all out. To Hell with the riches!
Last year I had a different idea. I didn't want to play but decided I was going to give away the game pieces. Whenever the cashier asked if I played Monopoly, I said yes and took the game tickets. Then I walked around the store asking people if they played Monopoly. When I got a yes, I gave them the tickets and I basked in their smiles. It usually didn't take long to find someone and I got instant gratification. Like I said earlier, Win/Win!!
That brings us to Monopoly 2017. I didn't realize the game was back until my blogging colleague/friend Mary Tyler Mom mentioned that she was giving away her tickets. I was a little excited to see that. Monopoly is back and I can start making people happy again. Little did I know....sigh!
It started a few weeks ago. I get my groceries, check out and get my Monopoly tickets. I look around to see who is playing Monopoly: Me: Do you play Monopoly? Customer: No but thanks. Next... Me: Do you play Monopoly? Another customer: Yes but no thanks. WHAT?!! You're turning down free tickets?
It wasn't so bad. It only took asking four people before finding someone to take the tickets....that time.
A few days later I tried again. This time it took twelve tries before finding someone to take the tickets. TWELVE!!! I wanted to give up after five but I really wanted...no needed to see how long it would take before I could find a taker. TWELVE!!! Most of them didn't play but a few just didn't want the tickets. Sheesh.
Now the last couple of times haven't been as bad. It's only taken a couple of tries to give the game pieces away. And yet I just found ten game pieces that I apparently forgot to give away. Anybody reading this want them? Anyone? Buehler?
I guess I can go back to the Jewel. The Brownies will be there over the weekend selling cookies. You think they might take them in exchange for some Thin Mints? Sigh!
I'm telling you this being a good guy is hard work.
This is a piece I wrote about selfless deeds. Guess what...there's no such thing.
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